Snap-on screwless wallplate wiring device

Abstract

A wall cover plate is provided for connecting directly to an electrical wiring device without the use of the base plate or adapter plate. The wall plate can have a connector such as a hook and/or prong that engages the housing for the mounting strap of the electrical wiring device. The electrical wiring device can include a removable connector attached to the mounting strap where the connector has at least one edge or coupling member for coupling with a faceplate. The faceplate can have an inner edge with a rib or series of teeth for connecting with the mounting strap or the removable connector by an interference fit.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electrical assembly comprising:
 an electrical wiring device having a housing with a from face, a first side wall, a second side wall, a first end wall, a second end wall, a first mounting strap extending from said first end wall and a second mounting strap extending from said second end wall for attaching said electrical wiring device to an electrical box, said housing having an inwardly extending shoulder with respect to an outer surface of said housing and spaced from said front face; and 
 a face plate for coupling to said electrical wiring device, said face plate having a front face, a rear face, and a central opening configured to receive said front face of said electrical wiring device, said face plate having a plurality of projections extending from said rear face and configured for coupling with said inwardly extending shoulder of said housing of said electrical wiring device. 
 
     
     
       2. The electrical assembly of  claim 1 , wherein
 said plurality of projections are oriented next to said central opening, and spaced inwardly from a peripheral outer edge of said face plate. 
 
     
     
       3. The electrical assembly of  claim 2 , wherein
 said shoulder of said electrical wiring device comprises a first undercut on said first end wall of said electrical wiring device and a second undercut on said second end wall of said electrical wiring device. 
 
     
     
       4. The electrical assembly of  claim 3 , wherein
 said central opening has a first side edge, a second side edge, a first end edge, and second end edge, and where said projections are provided at said first end edge and said second end edge. 
 
     
     
       5. The electrical assembly of  claim 4  wherein
 said projections have a leg extending from said rear face of said face plate, and a hook at a distal end of said kg and projecting inwardly toward a respective end wall of said electrical wiring device for engaging said shoulder, and where said shoulder is provided on said first end wall and said second end-and wall of said housing. 
 
     
     
       6. The electrical assembly of  claim 5 , wherein
 said hooks project into an axial passage defined by said central opening of said face plate. 
 
     
     
       7. The electrical assembly of  claim 1 , where said first mounting strap and second mounting strap have a first aperture oriented for receiving a mourning screw for coupling said electrical wiring device to an electrical box, and a second aperture spaced from said first aperture; and
 said face plate includes a plurality of prongs extending from said rear face and configured for mating with a respective second aperture of said first mounting strap and said second mounting strap. 
 
     
     
       8. The electrical assembly of  claim 7 , wherein
 said prongs are coupled to said second aperture by a friction fit. 
 
     
     
       9. The electrical assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said face plate has a substantially planar configuration. 
     
     
       10. The electrical assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said central opening extends between said front face and said rear face. 
     
     
       11. The electrical assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said face plate has a peripheral edge, and said central opening defines an inner edge of said face plate, and where said rear face extends between said peripheral outer edge and said inner edge. 
     
     
       12. The electrical assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said projections project inwardly with respect to said central opening. 
     
     
       13. The electrical assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said projections have a hook projecting inwardly with respect to said central opening for engaging said shoulder. 
     
     
       14. An electrical assembly comprising:
 an electrical wiring device having a housing with a front face, a first side wall, a second side wall, a first end wall, a second end wall, a first mounting strap extending from said first end wall and a second mounting strap extending from said second end wall for attaching said electrical wiring device to an electrical box, and an inwardly extending shoulder on said housing spaced from said front face; and 
 a face plate for coupling to said electrical wiring device, said face plate having a front face, a rear face, arid a central opening configured to receive said front face of said electrical wiring device, said face plate having a plurality of projections extending from said rear face, said projections having a leg extending from said rear face and a hook extending from a distal end of said leg, said hook projecting into an axial passage defined by said central opening and configured for coupling with said shoulder of said housing of said electrical wiring device. 
 
     
     
       15. The electrical assembly of  claim 14 , wherein
 said central opening has a first side edge, a second side edge, a first end edge, and second end edge, and where said projections are provided at said first end edge and said second end edge. 
 
     
     
       16. The electrical assembly of  claim 14 , wherein
 said plurality of projections are oriented next to said central opening. 
 
     
     
       17. The electrical assembly  14 , wherein
 said first mounting strap and second mounting strap have a first aperture oriented for receiving a mounting screw for coupling said electrical wiring device to an electrical box, and a second aperture spaced from said first aperture; and 
 said face plate includes a plurality of prongs extending from said rear face and configured for mating with said second aperture. 
 
     
     
       18. The electrical assembly of  claim 17 , wherein
 each of said prongs is coupled to a respective second aperture by a friction fit. 
 
     
     
       19. The electrical assembly of  claim 14 , wherein
 said shoulder of said electrical wiring device comprises a first undercut on said first end wall of said electrical wiring device and a second undercut on said second end wall of said electrical wiring device. 
 
     
     
       20. An electrical assembly comprising:
 an electrical wiring device having a housing with a front face, an outwardly facing wall, a first mounting strap extending from a first end of said housing and a second mounting strap extending from a second end of said housing for attaching said electrical wiring device to an electrical box, said outwardly facing wall of said housing having a shoulder extending inwardly relative to said outwardly facing wall and extending between said front face and said rear face; and 
 a face plate for coupling to said electrical wiring device, said face plate having a front face, a rear face, a peripheral outer edge and inner edge forming a central opening configured to receive said front face of said electrical wiring device, said face plate having a plurality of projections extending from said rear face and having an inwardly projecting portion configured for coupling with said shoulder of said housing of said electrical wiring device. 
 
     
     
       21. The electrical assembly of  claim 20 , wherein said outwardly facing wall of said housing has a first end wall, a second end wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall, each of said wall extending between said front face and said rear face of said housing. 
     
     
       22. The electrical assembly of  claim 21 , wherein said inwardly projecting portion of said projection is a hook projecting inwardly with respect to said central opening.